Hi °C | Lo °C 
A trailor company in Co Antrim has made its first |direct sale with a Saudi Arabian company.
SDC Trailers in Toomebridge will supply around 200 refurbished trailers to a major transport operator in Saudi Arabia.
The operator is to use the |trailers for the shipment of food and drink.
Earlier this year, SDC met the operator during an Invest NI mission to Jedda and Al Khobar, both business centres in Saudi Arabia.
Stephen McIvor, export sales manager for SDC, sealed the deal on behalf of the company. He said: “While we’ve sold trailers to Saudi through an agent in the past, |it was decided that we could |probably do greater business through a more direct approach to this important and very dynamic marketplace.
“The Invest NI mission came at the right time and gave us an opportunity to explore business there. Winning such a sizeable contract on the first visit was a real bonus — Saudi looks likely to become a very important market for us in the long-term.”
The deal, which is thought to be worth £500,000, was made during SDC’s first visit to Saudi Arabia.
Refurbished second-hand |trailers were supplied to the company because they were needed urgently.
Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI trade director, welcomed the deal and said there were “significant” opportunities for companies |prepared to commit to the Saudi market.
“Saudi Arabia is a marketplace in which customers expect to do business on a face-to-face basis. Doing business there usually takes time and is heavily dependent on relationships. Securing business on a first time mission is a remarkable achievement and clearly shows that the Saudi customer was highly impressed both by the quality of the products and the professionalism of the Northern Ireland company’s approach.”
